Wisconsin: untapped potential for pig farms

The pork industry in Wisconsin, USA looks bright, which is leading pork
producers to develop new areas where they can construct and operate large scale
pig farms.

Pork industry analysts and economists agree Wisconsin
is largely an untapped resource of available farming facilities. Wisconsin
farmers have so far not been involved in large-scale pig farming to the extent
of some neighbouring states. However, investors from Iowa simply see Wisconsin
as an undiscovered country, where they can expand to meet the growing demand for
their product.

Increase in permitsAs of January of this
year, Iowa's pork industry recorded 34 consecutive months of above average
profits. This has led to a substantial increase in applications for permits to
run large scale pig farming facilities in that state.From 2002 to 2004, an average
of 78 permits a year for animal feeding operations were issued in Iowa. The
largest percentage was pig confinements. In 2005, the total was 203; and last
year, 318, more than eight times the number in 2000 -- 38. The vast majority of
the 17 million pigs raised in Iowa are raised in confinement
operations.